Wednesday, 7 March 2012

Shaheed Bhai Surinder Singh ‘Shinda Galowal’

Amongst the well known Freedom Fighters of the Majha area features
the name of Shaheed Bhai Surinder Singh aka Shinda Galowal. Bhai Sahib
was born in the village of Kotli Sainian, District Gurdaspur on December
9, 1964. After studying till 10th grade at the state high school of
Hargobindpur, Bhai Sahib went on to complete an ITI Mechanical trade
course at Kaadian. Upon completion of his course Bhai Surinder Singh
began helping his family by farming their ancestral land. During these
times the Sikh Freedom movement was at its peak, the movement was widely
supported by the masses and villagers gladly fed and provided refuge
for the Jujharoos. Bhai Surinder Singh’s home was often visited by
Jujharoo Singh’s passing through his village and as a result Bhai Sahib
and his family were regularly subjected to police harassment and abuse.

Shaheed Bhai Surinder Singh 'Shinda Galowal'

Bhai Surinder Singh left his village and began to learn Santhiya
(correct pronunciation of Gurbani) from Damdami Taksal at Gurdwara
Gurdarshan Parkash (Mehta Chowk). Here after completing his Santhiya
began to partake in sewa of Langar and Amrit Sanchar’s. During this time
Bhai Sahib came in contact with many great Jujharoos and became
particularly close to Shaheed Bhai Jugraj Singh ‘Toofan’. Following Bhai
Jugraj Singh’s Shaheedi Bhai Surinder Singh was requested to join the
armed movement by the companions of Bhai Jugraj Singh. In this manner
Bhai Surinder Singh was recruited and became and active member of the
Khalistan Liberation Force. Bhai Sahib’s first course of action was to
force the police to surrender the weapons which were seized at the time
of the Bhai Jugraj Singh and Bhai Bakshish Singh‘s encounter.

Shaheed Bhai Tasbeer Singh Jhander

Bhai Surinder Singh went to work closely with Bhai Tasbeer Singh
Jhander, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Aulakh, Bhai Surjan Singh Tibar, Bhai
Amarjeet Singh and Bhai Kuldeep Singh Fauji. Bhai Sahib was highly
respected by all Jujharoo Jathebandi’s and due to his humbleness,
resolute faith in Akaal Purakh and orthodox character he won the respect
of the local villagers. As time passed and Bhai Sahib’s fame began to
grow a bounty of 10 Lakh (1,000,000) Rupee’s was placed on his head.

Bhai Surinder Singh was a humble Gursikh and always travelled on a
bicycle. On one occasion a police informant spotted Bhai Sahib and had
him captured at the village of Hameera, near Dialpur. Bhai Sahib was
taken to the infamous Beeko Interrogation Centre in Batala, where he was
tortured immensely. However Bhai Sahib did not speak a word as to the
whereabouts of his fellow Singhs or disclose any information on the
Jathebandi. Bhai Surinder Singh eventually tortured to death. Bhai Sahib
attained Shaheedi on 22nd May 1993.